Advent Carol Service

4.30pm, Sunday 27th November, 2011.

Chaplain: Revd. Thomas Coupar Organist & Director of Music: Simon Nieminski Sub Organist: Jeremy Cull The Robin Chapel Choir

www.robinchapel.org.uk

The Robin Chapel is a memorial of a beloved son, erected by his parents and embodying the wider spirit of Christian charity and unity. A unique feature of the Chapel is its purposeful and practical approach towards Christian universality. This characteristic is set out in a note to the original Order of Service as used in the Chapel:

The Robin Chapel is dedicated to the glory of God, and to His service, by all Christians and by all denominations of Christs Church. Every Service held within the Robin Chapel shall be open to all Christians of any denomination whatsoever.

Whether you come as part of a Christian denomination or of none, all have a place within these walls where the love of God dwells.

The professional, robed choir of the Robin Chapel sings the services of evensong or choral Eucharist every Sunday. The music is carefully integrated with the liturgy of the chapel and is wide-ranging, following the course of the Christian year. The repertoire encompasses some of the greatest music from the 14th century to the present day. This is a living tradition which is continually developing.

ORDER OF SERVICE
Organ prelude: J.S. Bach Nun komm' der Heiden Heiland, BWV 659 Introit: Rorate Cli
Drop down ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: Let the earth open and bring forth a Saviour. Lord, thou hast blessed thy land: Thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Words: Introit for Votive Mass of the Blessed Virgin during Advent Music: William Byrd

Hymn:
O come, O come, Emmanuel And ransom captive Israel That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free Thine own from Satan's tyranny From depths of Hell Thy people save And give them victory o'er the grave O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer Our spirits by Thine advent here Disperse the gloomy clouds of night And death's dark shadows put to flight. O come, Thou Key of David, come, And open wide our heavenly home; Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery. O come, O come, Thou Lord of might, Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height, In ancient times did'st give the Law, In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Words: Advent Antiphons trans. J.M. Neale Tune: Veni Emmanuel (adapted from a French Missal by Thomas Helmore)

Beloved in Christ, as we await the great festival of Christmas let us prepare ourselves so that we may be shown its true meaning. Let us hear, in lessons from Holy Scripture, how the prophets of Israel foretold that God would visit and redeem his waiting people. Let us rejoice, in our carols and hymns, that the good purpose of God is being mightily fulfilled. Let us celebrate the promise that our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, will bring all men and all things into the glory of God's eternal kingdom. The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the Gospel preached to them. But first, let us pray for the world which God so loves, for those who have not heard the good news of God, or who do not believe it; for those who walk in darkness and the shadow of death; and for the Church in this place and everywhere, that it may be freed from all evil and fear, and may in pure joy lift up the light and love of God. These prayers and praises let us humbly offer to God, in the words which Christ himself taught us:
Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

First lesson: Isaiah 11:1-5 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

Choir:
Remember, O thou man! Thy time is spent. Remember, O thou man, How thou cams't to me then, And I did what I can, Therefore repent. / Remember God's goodness, O thou man! Remember God's goodness, And promise made! Remember God's goodness, How His only Son He sent, Our sins for to redress, Be not afraid. / The angels all did sing, O thou man! The angels all did sing, On Sion hill: The angels all did sing, Praises to our heavenly King, And peace to man living, With right good will!' / To Bethlehem did they go, O thou man! To Bethlehem did they go, this thing to see: To Bethlehem did they go, To see whether it were so, Whether Christ was born or no To set us free. / In Bethlehem he was born, O thou man! In Bethlehem he was born, For mankind dear. In Bethlehem he was born, For us that were forlorn, And therefore took no scorn Our sins to bear. / Give thanks to God always, O thou man! Give thanks to God always, With heart most jolly. Give thanks to God always, Upon this blessed day. Let all men sing and say: 'Holy, holy!'
Words and music: Thomas Ravenscroft, from Melismata (1611)

Hymn: People, look east. The time is near Of the crowning of the year. Make your house fair as you are able, Trim the hearth and set the table. People, look east and sing today: Love, the guest, is on the way. Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare, One more seed is planted there: Give up your strength the seed to nourish, That in course the flower may flourish. People, look east and sing today: Love, the rose, is on the way. Stars, keep the watch. When night is dim One more light the bowl shall brim, Shining beyond the frosty weather, Bright as sun and moon together. People, look east and sing today: Love, the star, is on the way.

Angels, announce with shouts of mirth Christ who brings new life to earth. Set every peak and valley humming With the word, the Lord is coming. People, look east and sing today: Love, the Lord, is on the way.
Words: Eleanor Farjeon Tune: Besanon (French trad. Arr. Martin Shaw)

Second lesson: Micah 4:1-4 But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it.
Hymn:

Hark! the glad sound! the Saviour comes, The Saviour promised long: Let every heart prepare a throne, And every voice a song. He comes the prisoners to release In Satan's bondage held; The gates of brass before him burst, The iron fetters yield. He comes, the broken heart to bind, The bleeding soul to cure; And with the treasures of his grace To enrich the humble poor.

Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace, Thy welcome shall proclaim; And heaven's eternal arches ring With thy beloved Name.
Words: Philip Doddridge Tune: Bristol (Ravenscroft's Psalter, 1621)

Third lesson: Malachi 3:1-7 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years. And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the Lord of hosts. For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? Choir:
How lovely are the messengers that preach us the gospel of peace, To all the nations is gone forth the sound of their words.
Words: Romans 9:15,18. Music: Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy

Hymn:
Come, Thou long-expected Jesus, Born to set Thy people free; From our fears and sins release us, Let us find our rest in Thee.

Israels Strength and Consolation, Hope of all the earth Thou art; Dear Desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart. Born Thy people to deliver; Born a child and yet a King, Born to reign in us for ever, Now Thy gracious kingdom bring. By Thine own eternal Spirit Rule in all our hearts alone; By Thine all-sufficient merit, Raise us to Thy glorious throne.
Words: Charles Wesley Tune: Cross of Jesus (John Stainer)

Fourth lesson: Matthew 3:1-11 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

Choir:
This is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed and denied not, and said plainly, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What art thou then? Art thou Elias? And he said, I am not. Art thou the prophet? And he answered, No. Then said they unto him, What art thou? that we may give an answer unto them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? And he said, I am the voice of him that crieth in the wilderness. Make straight the way of the Lord.
Words: from John 1:19-23 Music: Orlando Gibbons

Hymn: On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry Announces that the Lord is nigh; Awake and hearken, for he brings Glad tidings of the King of kings. Then cleansed be every breast from sin; Make straight the way for God within, Prepare we in our hearts a home Where such a mighty Guest may come. For thou art our salvation, Lord, Our refuge and our great reward; Without thy grace we waste away Like flowers that wither and decay. To heal the sick stretch out thine hand, And bid the fallen sinner stand; Shine forth and let thy light restore Earth's own true loveliness once more. All praise, eternal Son, to thee, Whose advent doth thy people free; Whom with the Father we adore And Holy Ghost for evermore.
Words: Charles Coffin trans. John Chandler Music: Winchester New

Fifth lesson: Luke 1:39-49 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. Choir: Ave Maria
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Words: The Angelic Slutation, from Luke 1:28, 42. Music: Sir Edward Elgar

Sixth lesson: Revelation 22:1-7 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

Hymn: Lo! he comes with clouds descending, Once for favoured sinners slain; Thousand thousand saints attending Swell the triumph of his train: Alleluya! God appears, on earth to reign. Every eye shall now behold him Robed in dreadful majesty; Those who set at nought and sold him, Pierced and nailed him to the tree, Deeply wailing Shall the true Messiah see. Those dear tokens of his passion Still his dazzling body bears, Cause of endless exultation To his ransomed worshippers: Alleluya! See! the day of God appears. Yea, Amen! let all adore thee, High on thine eternal throne; Saviour, take the power and glory: Claim the kingdom for thine own: O come quickly! Alleluya! Come, Lord, come!
Words: Charles Wesley Tune: Helmsley (noted by T. Olivers)

Collect for Advent: Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Blessing: Christ the Sun of Righteousness shine upon you and scatter the darkness from before your path. And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always. Choral Amen Gibbons Organ Voluntary Kenneth Leighton Fantasy on Helmsley

THE ROBIN CHAPEL www.robinchapel.org.uk

Organist & Director of Music [email protected]

THE ROBIN CHAPEL, EDINBURGH THISTLE TRUST CCL Licence & MRL Licence: 227071 Scottish Charity SC003834